No.  291. 


HEATHENISM. 


BY  REV.  H.  B.  HOOKER. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 

* 

AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY, 

NO.  150  NASSAD-STREETj  NEW-YORK. 


D.  Fans  haw,  Printer. 


2 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


FROM  THE  APPEAL  OF  DR.  SCUDDER, 

MISSIONARY  AT  CEYLON. 

The  state  of  the  heathen  world  urges  upon  us  the  great 
duty  of  spreading  the  Gospel.  If  degradation,  pollution, 
and  every  species  of  crime  which  can  be  enumerated,  are 
calls  for  us  to  engage  in  this  work,  we  have  such  calls. 
The  very  nature  of  their  religion  forbids  any  other  state  of 
things.  The  characters  of  their  gods  are  as  debased  as  is 
possible  to  conceive.  Bramha,  who  is  called  the  creator, 
betrayed  a  criminal  passion  to  his  own  daughter,  and  was 
deprived  by  Siva  of  the  privilege  of  being  worshipped,  for 
his  lying.  Vishnu,  the  preserver,  was  an  adulterer,  a  thief, 
and  a  liar.  Pie  was  cursed  by  Paruvathe,  the  wife  of  Siva, 
for  lying,  and  by  her  changed  into  a  snake.  Siva’s  adulte¬ 
ries  are  numbered  by  thousands.  A  modest  person  will  not 
even  dare  mention  the  particulars  of  them.  Many  of  the 
images  which  are  worshipped,  are  of  the  most  indecent 
kind.  Hindoo  women  frequently  make  representations  of 
it  with  clay,  and  fall  down  before  it.  In  many  places,  the 
sculptured  images  on  the  outside,  as  well  as  within'  their 
temples,  represent  males  and  females  in  the  most  indecent 
attitudes.  Belonging  to  the  temples  are  dancing  girls,  sup¬ 
ported  by  the  revenues  of  the  temple,  wholly  or  in  part,  and 
are  common  to  all.  One  part  of  their  daily  business  is  to 
dance  before  the  idols,  at  which  time  they  sing  the  most 
filthy  songs,  and  exhibit  the  most  lascivious  gestures.  Their 
dress  is  often  so  thin  as  not  to  deserve  the  name  of  clothing. 
During  the  festivals  at  their  temples,  their  joy  keeps  pace 
with  the  number  of  these  dancers  and  the  gross  obscenity 
of  their  songs.  It  is  not  uncommon  for  brahmins,  at  such 
times,  to  mix  with  the  multitude,  and  select  the  finest  women 
they  meet,  and  demand  them  of  their  relatives  in  the  name 
of  the  idol.  Their  demand,  though  often  rejected,  is  often 
complied  with.  Plusbands  deliver  up  their  wives,  and  fathers 
their  daughters.  They  become  the  wives  of  the  gods,  or  in 
other  words,  the  prostitutes  of  the  brahmins.  Their  public 
processions  are  of  a  piece  with  other  things.  Men,  entirely 
naked,  dance  before  the  idol  in  open  day,  and  in  the  public 
streets.  The  celebrated  Abbe  De  Bois,  a  Roman  Catholic 

Sec  page  3  of  cover. 

No.  291. 


No.  291. 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


The  object  of  these  pages  is  to  present  the  moral  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  Heathen,  and  the  motives  for  sending  them  the 
glorious  Gospel.  The  facts  are  from  the  most  authentic 
sources,  chiefly  from  eye  witnesses;  and  the  subject  is  pre¬ 
sented  with  the  devout  hope  that  such  compassion  for  the 
miserable  and  perishing  may  be  awakened  as  will  rouse  to 
ardent  prayer  and  more  active  benevolence. 

I.  Extent  of  Heathenism. 

More  than  half  the  earth’s  surface  is  covered  with  moral 
darkness.  Almost  the  whole  of  the  vast  regions  of  Asia 
and  of  Africa,  extensive  portions  of  North  and  South  Ame¬ 
rica,  together  with  numerous  islands  of  the  sea,  belong  to 
the  empire  of  paganism.  In  its  deplorable  darkness  are 
enveloped,  according  to  the  best  authority,  not  less  than 
500,000,000  of  the  human  race ;  and  these  regions  embrace 
many  of  the  fairest  portions  of  the  globe.  Nature  is  no 
where  seen  in  more  lovely  attire,  and  has  been  no  where 
more  lavish  of  her  bounties.  In  grandeur  and  beauty  of 
scenery,  in  fertility  of  soil,  in  variety  of  useful  productions, 
they  are  exceeded  by  none  on  earth.  Let  the  eye  of  Chris¬ 
tian  benevolence  run  to  and  fro  through  this  immense  em¬ 
pire  of  darkness.  Truly  the  harvest  is  great ! 

IL  Absurdities  of  Heathenism  in  respect  to  the  Deity  and 

divine  ivorship. 

1.  Objects  of  worship. — More  than  200,000,000  of  our 
race,  embracing  China  and  contiguous  countries,  are  Budd¬ 
hists,  worshipping  a  great  variety  of  imaginary  deities, 
paying  homage  to  the  spirits  of  departed  ancestors,  and  to 
Yol.  10  B  2 


2 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


[30 


innumerable  idols.  More  than  50,000,000  are  worshippers 
of  the  Grand  Lama,  a  deified  human  being.  More  than 
100,000,000,  including  Hindostan  and  regions  adjacent,  are 
worshippers  of  the  deity  under  three  forms,  Brahma,  Y ish- 
na,  and  Siva,  with  numberless  subordinate  deities.  The 
millions  inhabiting  the  various  Asiatic  and  Pacific  islands 
worship  an  endless  variety  of  false  gods,  represented  by 
images  in  every  variety  of  monstrous  and  disgusting  forms. 
In  different  pagan  nations  various  animals  receive  divine 
honors,  as  the  cow  in  India,  various  reptiles  in  South  Af¬ 
rica,  the  shark  among  the  natives  of  the  Pacific  isles,  and 
the  crow  among  natives  of  the  North  West  coast.  The  lu- 
minaries  of  heaven  are  also  deified,  as  are  rivers,  and  trees, 
and  departed  souls  of  men,  and  malignant  demons ! 

2.  Their  religious  rites  evince  the  greatest  degrada¬ 
tion. — In  some  regions  they  are  attended  with  excessive 
cruelties.  “  The  shark,”  says  Rev.  Mr.  Ellis,  “  was  for¬ 
merly  worshipped  in  the  South  Sea  islands.  On  the  occasion 
of  worship,  the  priests  sallied  forth,  and  wherever  a  com¬ 
pany  of  persons  were  assembled,  a  rope  with  a  noose  was 
suddenly  and  unexpectedly  thrown  among  them,  and  the 
first  person  taken  in  the  snare,  man,  woman,  or  child,  was 
strangled,  cut  in  pieces,  and  thrown  into  the  sea,  to  be  de¬ 
voured  by  the  shark.” 

Dr.  Buchanan  writes :  “  The  horrid  solemnities  of  Jug- 
gernaut  continue.  Yesterday  a  woman  devoted  herself  to 
the  idol.  The  wheel  did  not  kill  her  instantaneously,  as  is 
generally  the  case,  but  she  died  in  a  few  hours.  This  morn¬ 
ing  as  I  passed  ‘  the  place  of  skulls  ’  nothing  remained  but 
her  bones.” 

Religious  rites  in  some  regions  are  most  disgusting. 
“  The  car  of  the  chief  Hindoo  idol,”  says  Dr.  Buchanan, 
“  moved  on  a  little  way  and  then  stopped.  A  boy  of  about 
twelve  years  was  then  brought  forth  to  attempt  something 
yet  more  lascivious,  if  peradventure  the  god  would  move. 
The  child  perfected  the  praise  of  his  idol  with  such  ardent 


31] 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


3 


expression  and  gesture  that  the  god  was  pleased,  and  the 
multitude  emitting  a  sensual  yell  o’f  delight,  urged  the  car 
along.”  The  Hindoo  gods  are  represented  as  examples  of 
every  kind  of  licentiousness,  and  as  pleased  with  corres¬ 
pondent  rites  of  worship.  Their  images  and  the  sculpture 
of  their  temples  are  spectacles  of  impurity.  The  whole  idol 
system  exerts  a  most  debasing  and  demoralizing  influence 
upon  the  mind.  What  a  contrast  between  paganism  and 
revelation  on  the  grand  point,  the  character  of  God  and  the 
way  of  acceptance  with  him ! 

III.  The  Heathen  have  no  correct  views  of  a  future  state. 

This  is  another  affecting  feature  of  their  moral  degrada¬ 
tion.  The  Chinese  and  the  Hindoos  (and  theirs  is  the 
faith  of  more  than  half  the  Heathen  world)  believe  in  the 
transmigration  of  the  soul ,  or  its  passage  after  death  from 
the  present  body  to  some  other ;  the  good  to  nobler,  the  bad 
to  viler  bodies.  These  views  involve  a  mere  animal  exist¬ 
ence  after  death,  and  rewards  and  punishments  correspond¬ 
ing  to  such  an  existence.  Various  African  and  Indian  tribes 
suppose  the  future  state  a  sort  of  continuance  of  the  pre¬ 
sent,  involving  similar  wants,  and  perils,  and  circumstances. 
Accordingly  the  grave  of  the  Indian  receives  also  his  dress, 
arms,  &c.  Retribution  to  the  good  will  consist  of  cloudless 
skies,  unfailing  verdure  and  abundant  game,  with  all  the 
luxuries  of  sensual  appetite  while  the  wicked  are  to  endure 
all  the  torments  of  ungratified  desire  in  barren  lands, 
abounding  with  wild  beasts  and  venomous  serpents,  and 
darkened  with  storms  and  tempests.  Without  greater  par¬ 
ticularity  on  this  subject,  it  may  suffice  to  say,  that  while  we 
find  no  pagan  nation  destitute  of  some  idea  of  a  future  state, 
we  find  none  whose  views  are  not  mingled  with  extrava¬ 
gant  absurdities.  While  they  have  been  unable  to  resist 
the  impression  of  a  future  life,  they  have  given  to  a  cor¬ 
rupt  and  disordered  fancy  the  privilege  of  drawing  such  a 
picture  as  she  pleased. 


4 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


[32 


In  respect  to  character ,  moral  debasement  is  the  univer- 
sal  tendency  of  heathen  views  of  futurity.  An  anticipated 
sensual  paradise  countenances  the  baser  appetites,  while  the 
fierce  and  malignant  passions  are  enflamed  by  the  supposed 
future  rewards  of  success  in  war  or  schemes  of  revenge. 
Instead  of  awing  the  transgressor’s  mind  and  repressing 
evil  deeds,  the  reverse  is  the  melancholy  fact.  And  on  hap* 
piness  their  influence  is  no  less  disastrous.  By  bloody  sa¬ 
crifices  of  human  victims,  by  unbounded  indulgence  of  hate¬ 
ful  lusts  and  malignant  passions,  countenanced  and  encou¬ 
raged  as  these  are  by  absurd  views  of  a  future  world,  the 
sum  of  human  misery  has  been  vastly  increased.  How  be¬ 
neficent  the  hand  that  bestows  that  Gospel  which  brings 
4‘  life  and  immortality  to  light,”  which  sets  truly  before  the 
benighted  pagan’s  mind  the  things  that  shall  be  hereafter! 

IV.  Vice  and  crime  among  the  Heathen . 

Under  the  influence  of  polluting  and  debasing  views  of 
the  Deity  and  divine  worship,  of  incorrect  apprehensions 
of  a  future  world,  and  the  grinding  oppression  of  despotic 
rulers,  iniquity  bursts  forth  in  heathen  countries  in  prodi¬ 
gious  luxuriance.  Our  limits  forbid  a  survey  of  the  great 
sea  of  pagan  wickedness.  The  united  voice  of  all  who  have 
dwelt  among  the  heathen  proclaims  that  none  but  those  ac¬ 
tually  present  to  behold  them  can  have  any  idea  of  what 
revolting  scenes  of  depravity  are  every  day  witnessed. 
Those  upon  the  spot  declare,  the  awful  picture  of  heathen 
abominations,  drawn  in  the  first  chapter  of  Romans,  is  es¬ 
sentially  the  state  of  heathenism  as  developed  before  their 
eyes.  Vice  bursts  over  all  control,  and  rolls  its  waves  of 
corruption  on  every  side.  The  whole  idol  system,  all  over 
the  earth,  is  full  of  ahominations  :  it  carries  its  deluded  vic¬ 
tims  down  to  such  a  frightful  depth  of  shameless  pollution 
as  renders  details  too  revolting  to  be  endured. 


33] 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


V.  The  miseries  of  the  Heathen  are  very  great.- 

1.  Despotic  governments  produce  incalculable  misery. 
The  arm  of  oppression  often  strips  men  in  an  hour  of  the 
gains  of  years,  thus  plunging  families,  sometimes  whole 
districts,  into  the  depths  of  poverty  and  misery.  Capricious 
and  sanguinary  laws  stretch  the  rod  of  terror  over  the  en¬ 
slaved  and  trembling  subject.  Property,  liberty,  or  life, 
must  be  surrendered  at  the  caprice  of  a  tyrant. 

2.  Religious  customs  inflict  great  miseries.  It  has  ever 
been  a  favorite  pagan  notion  that  suffering  was  pleasing  to 
the  Deity.  This  is  often  voluntary,  inflicted  by  deluded  de¬ 
votees  upon  themselves.  The  flesh  is  cut  or  pierced  with 
sharp  instruments,  tortured  by  fire,  or  emaciated  by  absti¬ 
nence  from  food.  A  most  miserable  death  is  often  the  con¬ 
sequence  of  this  infatuation.  Some  cast  themselves  upon 
iron  spikes  which  inflict  deadly  wounds  ;  others  bury  them¬ 
selves  alive  in  the  earth ;  others  sink  themselves  with  heavy 
Stones  to  the  bottom  of  the  ocean  ;  others  throw  themselves 
beneath  the  wheels  of  idol  cars.  The  funeral  pile  in  India 
was  a  dreadful  specimen  of  self-inflicted  misery. 

“  In  the  year  1799,  twenty -two  females,”  says  the  Lon¬ 
don  Christian  Observer,  “  were  burnt  alive  with  the  dead 
body  of  Unutio,  a  Brahmin.  The  fire  was  kept  burning  three 
days  !  When  one  or  more  arrived,, the  ceremonies  were  gone 
through  with,  and  they  threw  themselves  upon  the  blazing 
fire !  On  the  first  day  three  were  burned ;  on  the  second 
and  third  days  nineteen  more.”  “  Another  Brahmin  died 
near  Serampore,  who  had  married  forty  women;  all  but  eigh¬ 
teen  had  died  before  him.  On  this  occasion  a  fire  extending 
ten  or  twelve  yards  in  length  was  prepared,  into  which  the 
remaining  eighteen  threw  themselves,  leaving  more  than 
forty  children.”  In  the  Bengal  Presidency  in  nine  years, 
from  1815  to  1824,  the  number  of  suttees  (cases  of  burning 
as  above)  was  5,997, 

The  sufferings  by  pilgrimages  in  India  are  immense. 
More  than  300,000  persons  have  been  known  to  visit  a  fa- 


6 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


[34 


vorite  idol  in  a  single  year.  By  disease  and  want  a  fright¬ 
ful  havoc  of  life  is  occasioned.  The  London  Missionary  Re¬ 
gister  gives  the  following  facts  from  an  eye-witness  :  “  The 
poor  pilgrims  are  to  be  seen  in  every  direction  dead,  or  in 
the  agonies  of  death;  lying  by  fives,  tens  and  twenties;  and 
in  some  parts  there  were  hundreds  to  be  seen  in  one  place.” 
“  I  saw  one  poor  creature  who  was  partly  eaten,  though 
alive;  the  crows  made  an  incision  in  the  back,  and  were 
pulling  at  the  wound  when  I  came  up.  The  poor  creature 
feeling  the  torment,  moved  his  head  and  shoulders  for  a  mo¬ 
ment  ;  the  birds  flew  up,  but  immediately  returned  and  re¬ 
commenced  their  meal.  ” 

3.  Their  miseries  are  multiplied  by  the  want  of  natural 
affection.  This  principle  is  weakened,  and  it  seems  in  some 
cases  totally  destroyed.  The  infirmities  of  declining  life, 
instead  of  being  soothed  by  filial  tenderness,  are  the  occasion 
of  cruel  abandonment ;  or  death  is  hastened  by  bloody  wea¬ 
pons.  “  Sometimes,  tired  of  waiting  on  him,  the  South  Sea 
native  would  pierce  his  aged  and  unsuspecting  father  with 
a  spear.  Sometimes  the  children  would  pretend  they  were 
carrying  their  father  to  bathe,  when  they  would  throw  him 
into  a  grave  previously  prepared,  stifle  his  cries,  and  put 
an  end  to  his  life  by  throwing  large  stones  upon  him.” 

Ellis’  Account. 

Infanticide  has  prevailed  in  almost  every  heathen  coun¬ 
try.  “  Hundreds  of  helpless  children,”  says  Mr.  Kingsbu¬ 
ry,  “  have  been  murdered  among  the  Choctaws.  Sometimes 
the  mother  digs  a  grave  and  buries  her  child  alive  as  soon 
as  it  is  born ;  sometimes  she  puts  it  to  death  by  stamping 
on  its  breast,  by  strangling,  or  knocking  it  on  the  head.” 

“  A  Hindoo  woman  cast  hejr  child,  between  three  and 
four  years  old,  into  the  Ganges,  as  an  offering  to  the  god¬ 
dess.  The  little  creature  made  its  way  to  a  raft  of  bamboos 
that  happened  to  be  floating  by,  and  seizing  one  end  of  it 
was  drilled  along,  crying  to  its  unnatural  parent  for  help. 
She  perceiving  from  the  shore  the  danger  of  the  child’s  es- 


351 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


7 


caping,  plunged  into  the  water,  tore  away  its  hold,  broke  its 
neck,  and  hurled  its  life-warm  corpse  into  the  middle  of  the 
current,  by  which  it  was  soon  drifted  out  of  sight,” 

Tyerman  and  Bennett’s  Journal. 

4.  Heathen  wars  are  cruel. — War  is  horrid  enough  un¬ 
der  all  the  mitigations  of  civilized  life;  but  in  pagan  lands 
it  is  carried,  on  with  terrible  ferocity.  Scarcely  could  un¬ 
chained  demons,  bursting  from  their  abodes  beneath,  make 
more  horrid  exhibitions  of  malignant  passions.  “  The  bar¬ 
barity  of  wars  in  the  South  Sea  islands,”  says  Rev.  Mr.  Ellis, 
“  was  dreadful.  Here  a  warrior  might  be  seen  tossing  little 
children  and  infants  into  the  air,  and  catching  them  upon 
the  point  of  his  spear,  where  they  expired  in  agonies.  There 
another  might  be  seen  dragging  in  savage  triumph  five  or 
six  lifeless  children  by  a  cord,  which  had  been  passed  suc¬ 
cessively  through  their  heads  from  ear  to  ear.  Yonder,  ail 
covered  with  gore,  another  might  be  seen  scooping  with 
his  hands  the  blood  from  the  gushing  trunk  of  his  decapi¬ 
tated  foe  and  drinking  it  with  hideous  exultation.” 

5.  Their  sorrows  are  multiplied  by  indifference  to  each 
other's  woes.  The  most  hard-hearted  selfishness  is  generated 
by  heathenism.  The  sick  languish  unattended;  the  poor 
perish  by  cruel  neglect,  or  direct  acts  of  inhumanity.  “  As 
we  passed,  we  saw'  a  poor  man  lying  dead  among  the  heaps 
of  grain.  He  had  just  picked  up  a  few'  husks  of  peas  and 
grain,  which  it  appears  he  had  been  attempting  to  eat,  but 
was  too  far  gone.  Not  a  single  man  in  the  market  wTould 
give  this  poor  creature  one  handful  of  wdieat  to  save  his  life.” 

Christian  Observer. 

“  Every  Hindoo,”  says  Dr.  Ward,  “  in  the  hour  of  death 
is  hurried  to  the  side  of  the  Ganges,  or  some  sacred  river, 
where  he  is  exposed  to  the  burning  sun  by  day  and  the 
dews  and  cold  by  night.  Just  before  the  soul  quits  the  body 
he  is  immersed  to  the  middle  in  the  stream,  wfhile  his  rela¬ 
tions  stand  around  him  tormenting  him  in  these  last  mo¬ 
ments  with  superstitious  rites,  and  increasing  an  hundred 
fold  the  pains  of  dying.  Very  often  when  recovery  might 


8  HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM.  [36 


be  hoped  for,  these  barbarous  rites  bring  on  premature 
death.” 

6.  Sense  of  insecurity  is  a  great  source  of  misery.  Every 

thing  dear  in  the  present  world,  friends,  property,  liberty 
and  life,  are  in  constant  jeopardy  from  the  rapacity  of  des¬ 
pots.  The  storm  may  burst  at  any  moment,  taking  every 
thing  dear  at  a  single  stroke,  or  repeat  its  visit,  emptying 
the  vials  of  wrath,  drop  by  drop.  The  effects  of  supersti¬ 
tion  in  this  respect,  especially  in  Africa,  are  appalling. 
“  When  one  of  the  royal  family  dies,  human  blood  must 
flow  as  an  offering  to  the  gods.  On  these  occasions  tho 
princes  rush  out,  seize  the  first  person  they  meet,  and  drag 
him  in  for  sacrifice.  While  this  season  lasts,  therefore,  it 
is  with  trembling  steps  that  any  one  crosses  his  threshold ; 
and  when  compelled  to  uG  sc,  he  rushes  along  with  the  ut¬ 
most  speed,  avoiding  every  moment  the  murderous  grasp 
that  WOuld  Consign  him  to  death.  Discov.  and  Adv.  in  Africa. 

7.  “  Unrestrained  indulgence  of  the  passions  multiplies 
the  woes  of  the  heathen.  The  horrid  passion  of  revenge  has 
turned  into  an  utter  desolation  rich  and  populous  provinces. 
Disease,  the  curse  of  unbridled  lust,  had  made  the  most 
dreadful  havoc  on  several  of  the  South  Sea  islands  when 
they  were  first  visited  by  missionaries.  Intemperance,  an 
importation  from  Christian  countries,  has  frightfully  aug¬ 
mented  pagan  wretchedness.  Envy,  and  jealousy,  and  ma¬ 
lice,  and  remorseless  covetousness,  contribute  also  to  swell 


the  tide  which  sends  its  bitter  waters  through  a  large  portion 
of  the  scenes  of  social  and  domestic  life. 


8.  The  miseries  of  females. — Humanity  weeps  at  the  me¬ 
lancholy  picture  of  their  degradation  and  wretchedness. 
“  I  would  to  God,”  said  a  South  American  Indian  mother, 
“  that  my  mother  by  my  death  had  prevented  the  distresses 
I  endure.  What  kindness  can  we  show  to  our  female  chil¬ 
dren  equal  to  that  of  relieving  them  by  death  from  such 
oppression,  a  thousand  times  more  bitter  than  death?  I  say 
again,  would  to  God  my  mother  had  put  me  under  ground 
the  moment  I  was  born.”  Ceoil,8  „iM.  Scrmol. 


87] 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


9 


“  Hindoo  females,”  says  the  Abbe  Dubois,  “  are  in  faxt 
used  as  mere  animals.  The  men  regard  them  as  slaves, 
and  treat  them  on  all  occasions  with  severity  and  contempt. 
The  object  for  which  an  Hindoo  marries  is  not  to  gain  a 
companion  to  aid  him  in  enduring  the  ills  of  life,  hut  a  slave 
to  hear  children  and  he  subservient  to  his  rule.” 

“  The  Chinese  peasant,”  says  Malte  Brun,  “  yokes  his 
wife  and  his  ass  together  to  his  plough.”  And  Mrs.  Judson 
writes,  “  So  far  from  receiving  those  delicate  attentions 
which  render  happy  the  conjugal  state,  and  which  distin¬ 
guish  civilized  from  heathen  countries,  the  wife  receives 
the  appellation,  my  servant ,  or  my  dog ,  and  is  allowed  to 
partake  of  what  her  lordly  brutal  husband  is  pleased  to 
give  her  at  the  conclusion  of  his  own  repast.” 

9.  Savage  customs. — The  system  of  caste  in  India  is  one 
of  the  greatest  scourges  which  ever  afflicted  human  nature. 
It  is  repugnant  to  every  feeling  of  justice  and  humanity, 
and  binds  a  most  grievous  burden  upon  millions  of  the  hu¬ 
man  family.  The  Taboo  system  of  the  Pacific  islands  was 
a  kindred  work  of  darkness,  inflicting  a  cruel  death  upon 
all  that  broke  its  absurd  enactments.  The  system  of  ordeals, 
or  trials  of  accused  persons  by  fire,  water,  poison,  exposure 
to  wild  beasts,  &c.  is  a  perfect  mockery  of  justice,  and  a 
vast  arena  of  cruelty  and  misery. 

10.  Anxieties  and  forebodings  respecting  a  future  state. 
The  vices  and  crimes  .of  the  heathen  are  so  many  and  so 
odious,  and  so  contrary  to  reason  and  conscience,  the  law 
written  on  their  hearts,  so  destructive  to  the  body  and  pol¬ 
luting  to  the  mind,  and  their  modes  of  appeasing  the  Deity 
so  utterly  and  manifestly  absurd,  there  cannot  but  be  appre¬ 
hensions  for  the  future.  It  is  said  of  the  natives  of  the  South 
Sea  islands,  that  in  their  dying  agonies  they  would  often 
cry  to  their  attendants,  “  There,  there  stand  the  demons 
watching  for  my  spirit !  O  guard  its  exit ;  O  preserve  it  from 
their  grasp  !”  We  cannot  doubt  that  there  are  painful  fore¬ 
bodings  in  the  minds  of  millions  as  they  contemplate  the 
unknown  future;  these  are  whisperings  of  an  immortali- 


HORRORS  OF  HEATH  EX  ISM. 


10 


[38 


ty ;  there  is  conscious  guilt,  there  is  consequently  anxiety 
and  alarm ! 

“  Their  sorrows  shall  he  multiplied  that  hasten  after  ano¬ 
ther  god.”  We  have  given  a  mere  outline,  a  drop  or  two  of 
a  great  ocean.  The  cry  of  heathen  degradation  and  wretch¬ 
edness  is  an  “  exceeding  bitter  cry;”  it  is  like  the  voice  of 
many  waters;  it  calls  for  the  alleviating  influence  of  that 
Gospel  whose  inviting  voice  is,  “  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that 
labor  and  are  heavy  laden ,  and  I  will  give  you  rest. 

VI.  Prospects  of  the  Heathen  for  eternity. 


1.  Throughout  the  Old  Testament  the  character  of  the 
heathen  is  described  as  excessively  wicked  and  most  deep¬ 
ly  offensive  to  God.  He  reproves  them  in  the  severest  lan¬ 
guage.  He  warns  his  people,  in  every  form  of  solemn  ad¬ 
monition,  against  following  their  examples,  and  punishes 
them  with  severity  when  they  imitate  the  heathen.  He 
chastises  pagan  nations  in  the  most  terrible  manner,  as¬ 
signing  their  wickedness  as  the  reason.  Witness  the  utter 
desolation  of  Sodom,  Babylon,  Tyre,  Edom,  and  Moab. 
These  terrible  facts  show  that  God  views  heathen  abomina¬ 
tions  as  inexcusable.  They  carried  their  pollutions  with 
them  to  the  grave,  dying  as  they  lived,  leaving  not  a  shadow 
of  reason  for  believing  their  moral  characters  altered,  and 
consequently  giving  melancholy  assurance  of  their  having 
no  part  “  in  the  resurrection  of  the  just.” 

2.  The  New  Testament  describes  in  the  plainest  lan 
guage  the  character  of  those  who  cannot  enter  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.  The  vices  which  involve  this  exclusion  are  such 
as  these :  “  idolatry,  uncleanness,  lasciviousness,  hatred,  en- 
vyings,  wrath,  malice,  strife,  seditions,  covetousness,  drunk¬ 
enness,  murders,  revellings,”  &c.  Those  exposed  to  eter¬ 
nal  wrath  are  also  designated  as  “  covenant  breakers,  in¬ 
ventors  of  evil  things,  without  natural  affection,  implacable, 
unmerciful,  whose  throat  is  an  open  sepulchre,  under  whose 
tongues  is  the  poison  of  asps,  whose  mouth  is  full  of  cursing 


39] 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


11 


and  bitterness,  whose  feet  are  swift  to  shed  blood,  who  have 
no  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes.”  All  testimony  respect¬ 
ing  the  heathen  proclaims  that  they  live  and  die  in  just  the 
moral  condition  here  described.  They  do  just  such  things, 
and  have  pleasure  in  them  that  do  them.  The  inference 
is,  that  they  inherit  “  that  wrath  which  is  revealed  from 
heaven.” 

3.  But  we  have  express  declarations  upon  this  point. 

Rom.  2:8.  “  But  unto  them  that  are  contentious,  and  do 

not  obey  the  truth,  but  obey  unrighteousness,  indignation 
and  wrath,  tribulation  and  anguish,  upon  every  soul  of  man 
that  doeth  evil,  of  the  Jew  first,  and  also  of  the  Gentile .” 
Thus  the  heathen  are  as  certainly  exposed  to  perdition  as 
any  other  class  of  sinners;  no  exception  is  made  in  their 
favor.  Moral  character  is  the  ground  upon  which  destiny 
is  settled,  and  a  miserable  retribution  will  follow  guilt 
wherever  found.  Again,  Romans  2  :  12,  “  For  as  many 
as  have  sinned  without  law,  (i.  e.  without  knowledge  of  re¬ 
velation,)  shall  perish  without  law,”  not  by  being  judged  by 
the  requirements  of  revelation,  but  for  not  following  the 
light  they  did  enjoy.  Nothing  can  be  plainer  than  that 
the  heathen  may  sin  unto  perdition,  though  unenlightened 
by  revelation. 

4.  Upon  no  principle  but  the  one  now  advocated  can  we 
account  for  the  conduct  of  the  apostles  toward  the  heathen. 
Their  earnest  warnings,  made  “  day  and  night  with  tears,” 
their  agonizing  prayers,  their  cheerful  endurance  of  every 
species  of  reproach  and  suffering  while  preaching  to  the 
heathen,  their  renunciation  of  every  temporal  advantage, 
and  their  cheerful  surrender  of  life  to  any  horrid  form  of 
death  rather  than  abandon  their  work  ;  all  this  is  plain  and 
consistent  on  the  supposition  of  wrath  to  come,  and  incon¬ 
sistent  and  inexplicable  on  any  other.  They  were  men  full 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  certainty  of  sure  perdition  to  im¬ 
penitent  heathen  accounts  for  their  conduct.  They  acted 
like  madmen  on  any  other  principle. 

5.  The  position  now  taken  is  confirmed  by  a  scriptural 


12 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


[40 


view  of  the  character  of  God,  and  the  nature  of  the  heavenly 
world .  God  is  glorious  in  holiness,  and  the  character,  em¬ 
ployments  and  pleasures  of  the  heavenly  inhabitants  are 
represented  as  at  the  farthest  possible  distance  fromi  every 
thing  that  defileth.  With  such  a  God,  and  in  such  a  hea¬ 
ven,  can  such  persons  dwell  as  the  Bible  describes  the 
heathen  to  be,  and  as  we  know  them  to  be  1  Can  the  idol¬ 
ater,  the  reveller,  the  effeminate,  the  adulterer,  the  impla¬ 
cable,  the  unmerciful  enter  there  ?  But  this  is  the  charac¬ 
ter  of  the  heathen ;  they  carry  their  abominations  to  their 
dying  beds,  and  sink  in  death  with  all  their  pollutions 
upon  them.  Do  not  the  heathen  then  “  awake  to  shame 
and  everlasting  contempt  ?”  If  life,  to  probation’s  last  hour, 
be  spent  in  guilt  and  pollution,  can  we  believe  it  will  be 
succeeded  by  a  happy  immortality  ? 

To  the  apology,  that  they  worship  God  according  to  the 
best  of  their  knowledge,  and  are  therefore  in  no  danger  of 
perdition;  I  reply, 

1.  The  word  of  God  expresSfy  denirs  this  sllsdgcd  igno** 

ranee,  declaring  that  the  works  of  nature  display  such  evi¬ 
dences  of  the  being  and  attributes  of  God,  that  there  is  no 
palliation  of  the  guilt  of  idol  worship.  “  For  the  invisible 
things  of  him  from  the  creation  of  the  world  are  clearly 
seen ,  being  understood  by  the  things  that  are  made,  even 
his  eternal  power  and  Godhead ;  so  that  they  are  without 
excuse ;  because  that  when  they  knew  God,  they  glorified 
him  not  as  God,”  &c.  Rom.  1  :  20,  21.  “  Who,  knowing 

the  judgment  of  God,  (that  they  which  commit  such  things 
are  worthy  of  death,)  not  only  do  the  same,  but  have  plea¬ 
sure  in  them  that  do  them.”  Rom.  1  :  32.  The  works  of 
nature  pour  as  much  light  now  upon  pagan  minds  respect¬ 
ing  the  character  and  will  of  God  as  they  did  when  these 
passages  were  written,  and  the  inference  of  their  inexcusa- 
bleness  is  as  just  now  as  it  was  then. 

2.  But  facts  show  their  apology  has  no  ground.  Twi¬ 
light  is  not  noon-day,  but  it  may,  nevertheless,  be  sufficient 
to  show  which  is  the  right  and  which  the  wrong  path. 


41] 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


13 


The  leading  principles  of  the  moral  law  have  never  yet 
been  entirely  effaced  amid  all  the  darkness  and  depravity 
of  the  world.  “  At  a  very  early  age  I  was  employed,”  con¬ 
fesses  a  distinguished  pagan,  “  by  my  father  to  perform 
various  offices  in  an  idol  temple.  I  hardly  remember  the 
time  when  my  mind  was  not  exercised  on  the  folly  of  idola¬ 
try.  These  idols,  I  thought,  were  made  only  by  the  hand 
of  man,  can  move  from  one  place  to  another  only  by  man, 
and,  whether  treated  well  or  ill,  are  unconscious  of  either. 
So  affected  was  I  once  by  these  considerations,  that,  instead 
of  placing  the  idols  according  to  custom,  I  threw  them  from 
their  pedestals  and  left  them  with  their  faces  in  the  dust.” 

Miss.  Register. 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  in  the  minds  of  millions  there 
is  more  or  less  conviction  of  their  folly  and  wickedness; 
but  as  their  religious  systems  give  full  sway  to  those  pas¬ 
sions  whose  indulgence  constitutes  their  chief  happiness, 
they  willingly  stifle  conviction,  and  permit  themselves  to 
be  borne  away  by  the  current. 

It  is  no  position  of  ours,  that  no  jpagan  ever  gropes  his 
way  to  God.  At  the  same  time,  with  Scripture  principles 
before  us  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  character  of  the  heathen 
on  the  other,  the  conviction  cannot  be  resisted,  that  the  great 
body  of  them  “  go  away  into  everlasting  punishment.” 

Let  there  be  no  misapprehension  on  another  point.  They 
do  not  perish  for  rejecting  Christ.  How  shall  they  reject 
one  of  whom  they  have  never  heard?  They  are  con¬ 
demned  for  not  following  the  light  they  do  enjoy.  Their 
voluntary  wickedness,  their  utter  moral  unfitness  for  hea¬ 
ven,  and  that  alonp,  is  the  ground  of  their  exclusion. 

If  any  thing  can  be  proved  from  the  word  of  God,  it  can 
be  proved  that  the  great  body  of  the  heathen  are  not  saved. 
This  is  indeed  a  startling  and  awful  conclusion  :  but  it  can¬ 
not  be  avoided.  And  it  would  seem  that,  in  view  of  such 
facts,  all  Christendom  would  be  filled  with  the  deepest 
compassion;  that  throughout  all  its  coasts  would  be  heard 
tho  cry,  Let  us  hasten  to  the  perishing  nations  with  that 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


14 


glorious  Gospel  which  is  the  “wisdom  of  God  and  the 
power  of  God  unto  salvation.” 


VII.  Motives  for  sending  the  Gospel  to  the  Heathen . 

1.  The  Gospel  is  the  grand  and  only  remedy  for  their 
ivants. — It  meets  them  all.  It  is  “  a  light  to  lighten  the 
Gentiles.”  It  reveals  the  true  character  of  Jehovah,  un¬ 
folds  the  way  of  acceptance  through  a  Mediator,  commu¬ 
nicates  all  the  great  truths  respecting  a  coming  world  need¬ 
ful  for  man  to  know,  explains  and  enforces  the  duties  of 
man  in  the  present  life,  and  moreover  is  accompanied, 
wherever  it  is  proclaimed,  hy  those  gracious  influences  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  hy  which  men  are  “born  again,”  “pass 
from  death  unto  life,”  are  filled  with  the  love  of  God,  are 
taught  to  deny  every  worldly  lust,  to  lead  lives  of  humility, 
meekness,  patience,  and  active  benevolence ;  and  by  which 
they  are  qualified  for  a  holy  and  happy  immortality.  And 
the  Gospel  is  the  only  means  by  which  these  glorious  re¬ 
sults  can  be  accomplished.  Its  Author’s  name  is  the  only 
one  under  heaven  given  among  men  whereby  they  can  be 
saved.  The  Gospel  is  the  light  of  life ;  therefore  are  we 
bound  to  send  it  to  every  benighted  region. 

2.  The  triumphs  it  has  already  icon  urge  its  universal 
diffusion.  Within  thirty  years  it  has  driven  idolatry  from 
more  than  twenty  islands  of  the  sea.  “  It  has  so  tamed  the 
ferocity  of  numerous  savage  tribes  that  they  have  beat  their 
swords  into  ploughshares  and  their  spears  into  pruning 
hooks.  It  has  broken  in  pieces  some  of  the  most  iron- 
hearted  despotisms  that  have  ever  scourged  our  race.  It 
has  erected  hundreds  of  temples  to  the  living  God,  and  from 
them  is  now  pouring  on  the  surrounding  darkness  the  glo¬ 
rious  liofht  of  truth.  It  has  raised  whole  communities  from 
the  most  disgusting,  brutal  and  miserable  degradation,  to 
intelligence,  sobriety,  social  order,  and  domestic  happiness. 
It  has  exerted  its  sanctifying  power  over  thousands,  inspir¬ 
ing  hatred  of  sin  and  the  love  and  practice  of  holiness.  It 


43] 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


15 


has  furnished  the  miserable  with  precious  consolations,  and 
the  dying  with  triumphant  hopes.”  Labor  therefore  has 
not  been  spent  for  naught.  Here  is  a  loud  appeal  to  scatter 
the  good  seed  with  an  unsparing  hand.  The  moral  artil¬ 
lery  of  the  Gospel  has  never  been  faithfnlly  used  without 
a  triumph.  Let  the  sound  thereof  go  out  to  the  ends  of 
the  world.  Let  it  peal  on  every  human  ear. 

3.  The  facilities  with  which  we  are  furnished  for  'prose - 
cuting  this  work  urge  us  forward. — No  age  has  enjoyed  so 
many.  Christian  enterprise  has  already  lit  the  lamp  of  life 
on  the  borders  of  the  principal  heathen  kingdoms.  From 
these  positions  light  may  be  sent  in  every  direction  through 
the  surrounding  darkness.  The  benevolent  heart  can  make 
its  choice  in  what  region  of  the  shadow  of  death  it  would 
diffuse  the  glad  tidings.  By  a  thousand  channels  we  can 
pour  the  waters  of  salvation  on  dry  and  thirsty  lands.  And 
in  such  arrangements  of  Providence  is  found  the  earnest 
remonstrance,  “  Why  stand  ye  here  all  the  day  idle?” 

4.  The  present  attitude  of  the  pagan  world  powerfully 
appeals  to  us  on  their  behalf — The  long  slumbers  of  moral 
death  begin  to  be  broken.  As  here  and  there  a  ray  of  light 
has  penetrated  the  thick  darkness,  the  spirit  of  inquiry  has 
been  roused.  The  superstitions  of  an  hundred  generations 
are  shaken.  They  seem  sinking  under  the  mighty  mass 
of  their  own  corruptions.  The  mind,  so  long  debased  and 
benighted,  as  if  the  burden  could  be  endured  no  longer,  is 
looking  round  for  some  supply  of  its  immortal  wants.  The 
glimmerings  of  the  true  light  have  shown  the  heathen  the 
frightful  reality  of  their  own  degradation  and  wretched¬ 
ness.  “  Come  over  and  help  us,”  is  the  cry  which  is  wax¬ 
ing  louder  and  louder  from  different  regions  of  the  pagan 
world.  How  affecting  the  spectacle  of  benighted  nations 
asking  for  the  bread  of  life !  Who  can  withstand  such  an 
appeal  ?  A  most  solemn  responsibility  rests  upon  those  who 
hear  it.  A  motive  to  exertion  is  thus  presented  which  can¬ 
not  be  resisted  without  deep  guilt.  Whose  heart  can  refuse 
the  fervent  prayer;  whose  hand  deny  the  generous  offering? 


16 


HORRORS  OF  HEATHENISM. 


[44 


5.  I  urge  one  more  motive,  and  it  is  an  imperative  one, 
the  last  command  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  knew  the 
darkness,  the  pollutions,  the  miseries  and  the  dangers  of  the 
heathen.  He  knew  his  Gospel  was  their  only  remedy.  He 
knew,  too,  all  the  objections  which  enmity,  unbelief,  cove¬ 
tousness,  or  lukewarmness  could  make  to  its  diffusion.  But 
he  makes  no  reservation.  “  Go,  preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature.”  Traverse  every  sea ;  penetrate  every  benighted 
island  and  continent ;  preach  it  in  every  language ;  let  every 
creature  hear  its  glad  tidings.  No  evasion  is  possible ; 
none  can  be  made  which  would  not  justify  violation  of  any 
other  divine  precept.  There  stands  the  imperative  injunc¬ 
tion  before  the  eyes  of  all  Christians ;  uttered  last,  that  it 
might  be  remembered  longest ;  uttered  as  the  closing  act  of 
the  Savior’s  mission  on  earth,  that  nothing  should  be  want¬ 
ing  to  its  solemnity.  And  that  precept  does  hind,  if  divine 
authority  can  impose  obligation,  it  does  bind  those  who  have 
the  Gospel,  to  send  it  through  the  world. 

Reader,  the  claims  of  the  heathen  are  before  you.  You 
cannot  now  refuse  them  the  aid  Providence  enables  you  to 
give,  and  be  guiltless  of  their  blood.x  If  you  harden  your 
heart  under  the  affecting  appeals  of  pagan  miseries,  “  doth 
not  he  that  pondereth  the  heart  consider  it?  and  he  that 
keepeth  thy  soul,  doth  not  he  know  it?”  Surrender  your 
mind  to  the  influence  of  Christian  benevolence.  By  fervent 
prayer,  by  every  needed  sacrifice  of  time,  and  property,  and 
influence,  bear  your  part  in  the  blessed  enterprise  of  pour¬ 
ing  the  light  of  salvation  on  a  benighted  world. 


END. 


II0RR0R3  OF  HEATHENISM. 


3 


priest,  who  spent  many  years  in  the  Mysore  country,  says,, 
“  I  have  never  beheld  an  Indian  procession  without  its  pre¬ 
senting  me  with  an  image  of  hell"  As  might  he  expected, 
the  minds  of  men,  women,  and  children  become  polluted  to 
such  a  degree  that  they  carry  the  pernicious  lessons  of  their 
temples  and  festivals  into  all  the  walks  of  private  life.  As 
children  are  conversant  with  such  scenes  from  their  early 
childhood,  and  as  no  pains  are  taken  by  their  parents  to  curb 
their  passions,  they  of  course  soon  show  their  degeneracy. 
F ornication  is  very  common  among  them.  Adultery  is  pre¬ 
valent  to  a  surprising  degree.  “  A  chaste  woman,  faithful  to 
her  husband,  is  scarcely  to  be  found  among  the  millions  of 
Hindoos.”  Vast  numbers  of  married  men  keep  concubines. 
If  a  climax  be  wanting  to  this  horrid  picture,  it  will  be  found 
at  one  of  their  ceremonies,  always  held  at  night,  in  which 
there  is  a  promiscuous  intercourse  among  the  sexes.  Brah¬ 
mins  and  pariahs,  husbands  and  wives,  in  a  word,  all  classes 
and  descriptions  of  people  degrade  themselves  to  a  level  with 
irrational  animals.  The  husband  who  may  see  his  wife  in 
the  arms  of  another,  can  make  no  resistance  at  this  time. 

The  religion  I  have  now  described,  must  necessarily  be  a 
prolific  source  of  every  species  of  crime.  In  addition  to  those 
already  mentioned,  that  of  prematurely  destroying  illegiti¬ 
mate  children  is  common.  In  Bengal,  it  was  represented  to 
the  late  Mr.  Ward  that  the  number  thus  destroyed  could  not 
be  less  than  ten  thousand  a  month.  To  the  dishonesty  of  this 
people  there  are  no  bounds.  I  have  never  seen  a  man,  who 
is  not  under  the  influence  of  Christianity,  whose  word  I  would 
trust.  Perjury  prevails  to  such  a  degree,  that  I  have  no  doubt 
I  could  hire  a  hundred  of  them  for  a  shilling,  to  testify  to  any 
falsehood.  “Pooree,”  says  a  Hindoo,  “is  the  heaven  of  the 
Hindoos,  yet  there  the  practices  of  mankind  are  adultery,  theft, 
lies,  murder  of  the  innocent,  whoremongery,  disobedience 
and  abuse  of  parents,  defiling  of  mothers,  defiling  of  sisters, 
defiling  of  daughters.  Such  is  the  religion  of  Juggernaut.” 

The  temple  of  Juggernaut  is  resorted  to  by  people  from 
the  farthest  parts  of  Hindoostan.  It  takes  a  year  for  such 
to  complete  their  pilgrimage.  “It  is  no  uncommon  occur¬ 
rence  to  see  the  miserable,  worn-out  pilgrim,  with  a  pa¬ 
tience  and  fortitude  worthy  of  a  better  cause,  bind  their  soli¬ 
tary,  tattered  garments  round  their  lacerated  feet,  and  go 
groaning  along,  with  bending  back  and  tottering  step,  and 
No.  291. 


20  pages.]  HORRORS  OF  heathenism. 

emaciated  frame,  and  dull  and  sunken  eyes,  from  day  to  day, 
and  week  to  week,  until  they  obtain  the  object  of  their  pain¬ 
ful  toils,  a  view  of  Juggernaut.”  “Such  is  the  great  mor¬ 
tality  among  these  pilgrims,  that  a  Hindoo  of  property 
always  makes  his  will  before  he  sets  out  on  the  journey, 
and  takes  a  most  affecting  farewell  of  his  disconsolate  rela¬ 
tions.”  If  Christianity  was  to  extend  its  influence  no  far¬ 
ther  than  this  world,  it  would  be  worth  all  the  sacrifice 
Christians  could  make  of  their  time  and  money,  to  send  it 
to  the  East,  in  order  to  prevent  the  distressing  bodily  afflic¬ 
tions  poor  idolaters  undergo.  How  much  more  then,  when 
they  look  down  upon  the  world  of  wo  which  awaits  them 
the  moment  they  die,  should  they  be  exerted  to  use  their 
utmost  endeavors  to  send  them  the  Gospel !  O,  where  are 
the  bowels  of  Christians,  that  they  yearn  no  more  over  them ! 

In  view  of  these  facts,  we  shall  all  doubtless  he  ready  to 
exclaim,  that  if  any  thing  more  can  be  done  for  the  heathen, 
it  must  he  done.  Nothing  can  withstand  its  force.  Armies 
disappear  before  it,  as  the  morning  cloud  and  early  dew  be¬ 
fore  the  scorching  sun.  2  Chron.  19.  Prison-doors  fly 
open,  and  chains  are  hurst  “  as  a  thread  of  tow  is  broken 
when  it  toucheth  the  fire.”  Acts,  12.  How  soon  was  the 
ever-blessed  God  overcome  (I  speak  it  with  adoring  reve¬ 
rence)  by  the  prayers  of  his  servant  Moses.  Though  his 
justice  was  provoked  to  the  highest  degree,  and  called  for 
the  destruction  of  his  people,  he  could  do  nothing  to  them 
as  long  as  he  (who  was  the  type  of  Christ)  stood  between 
him  and  them.  With  the  incense  of  our  Redeemer’s  blood 
in  our  hands,  will  any  one  say  that  we  are  less  able  to  pre¬ 
vail  with  God  to  stay  the  plague  which  is  abroad  among 
the  nations,  than  Moses  was  to  ward  off  the  threatened  curse? 

No.  291. 


